St. Louis Rams Post-Game Roundtable: Preseason Game 2 vs. Packers

2. The Rams are hoping to have Jake Long and Rodger Saffold back in action for the ever-so-important third preseason game. Do you think that the Rams have enough time to get their starting offensive line ready in time for the season? Do you think that there’s any chance that the Rams will be able to keep their starting offensive line healthy all season?

Oct 20, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; St. Louis Rams tackle Jake Long (77) on the sidelines in the third quarter. The Carolina Panthers defeated the St. Louis Rams 30-15 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Nathan K.: Well, Jeff Fisher has regularly broken the mold, in terms of preseason snaps for his starters. While most teams significantly reduce the snap counts for their top players in the fourth game (if they play at all), Fisher has regularly treated it similarly to the third preseason game. That should help in the process of getting that starting unit ready, and some “unified” snaps under their belt, before the regular season starts.

In terms of staying healthy, I certainly wouldn’t bet any substantial amount of money on the unit staying on the field together for the entire season. However, if there is any team in the league that has paid their dues, in terms of offensive line injuries, it would be the St. Louis Rams. Maybe, this will be the year…

Anthony K.: I believe that the Rams’ rather conservative approach to getting their starting offensive line back on the field is the right approach, given all of the injuries this unit has faced over the past few seasons. The Rams can ill afford to lose any one of their key cogs along the line.

Realistically, more than one of their starters will sit out at least a game or two along the way, and perhaps, that may not be such a bad thing. Scott Wells and Jake Long are the two oldest members of the starting offensive line, so the Rams should continue to take it easy with both of them if they don’t want to constantly be reshuffling the line. As a side note, youngster Greg Robinson is expected to start at left guard this season–between Long and Wells–having those veterans flanking him will be huge in his development. If the Rams are forced to keep moving him around, it might end up stunting his growth as a hopeful future Pro Bowler.

Blaine G.: I think the goal when Jake Long went down was to have him ready for week one which he is on schedule for. Therefore if he sits a few games in the preseason, I’m not too concerned. As for the regular season, that I am concerned about. Saffold has never played a full season, Wells hasn’t played a full season with the Rams, and Long is coming off of the ACL injury. There is little to no depth behind those guys. Lets just hope the O-line doesn’t catch an injury plague.